Web-fed printing machines



Sept. 4, 1962 L. A. DYKE 3,052,182

WEB-FED PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 8, 1959 lO Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 4, 1962 l.. A. DYKE 3,052,182

WEB-FED PRINTING MACHINES Filed OCT.. 8, 1959 lO SheetsfSheet 2 LEsb/E LEXAMQER Dying Sept 4, 1962 l.. A. DYKE 3,052,182

WEB-FED PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 8, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 L. A. DYKE 3,052,182

WEB-FED PRINTING MACHINES 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 .M H I A MS m vom@ O wm\\w I NN @Q/ n w Sept. 4, 1962 Filed oct. 8, 1959 Sept. 4, 1962 l.. A. DYKE WEB-FED PRINTING MACHINES 1D Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 8, 1959 QS. QQ

Sept. 4, 1962 L. A. DYKE WEB-FED PRINTING MACHINES 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed 001.. 8, 1959 ,drague/c Sept. 4, 1962 L. A. DYKE WEB-FED PRINTING MACHINES 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 8, 1959 Sept. 4, 1962 A. DYKE NEB-FED PRINTING MACHINES 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Ocl'.. 8, 1959 sept. 4, 1962 L. A. DYKE 3,052,182

WEB-FED PRINTING MACHINES Filed 0G11. 8, 1959 lO Sheets-Sheet 9 Sept. 4, 1962 1 A. lmme: 3,052,182

WEB-FED PRINTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 8, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 United States Patent Office 3,052,182 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 Filed Oct. 8, 1959, Claims priority, application Great Britain ct. 9, 1958 16 Claims. (Cl. 101-142) The invention relates to web-fed pr-inting machines and has for one of its objects to provide a machine which is -readily adaptable for varied purposes, erg. for the production of business forms of different lengths or lmake-up and with or without ,feeding or tear-ntf holes or perforations.

The invention provides a web-fed printing machine having at least one printing cylinder carrying, or arranged to carry, around only a part of its circumference matter to be printed whereby printing is effected during only a part of a revolution of the cylinder, means lfor effecting conltinuous rotation of the cylinder and means for effecting an intermittent feed of the web in printing contact with the cylinder and in such timed relation with the rotation of the cylinder tha-t the web i-s advanced during the part of the revolution during which printing is effected and remains stationary dur-ing the non-printing part of the revolution.

The printing cylinder may itself carry .printing plates or other printing surfaces or it may be an offset roller in a lithographic process.

The machine may include means for effecting pressure contact between the web yand cylinder during the printing and for relieving the pressure when the web is stationary.

The machine may also have means for varying the extent of the advance of the web with changes in the circumferential length of the printing portion of the cylinder.

The machine may incorporate independent driving means for the cylinder and for the web lfeeding means there may be a common power source lwith la divided drive to the cylinder and Ito the web feeding means. In the latter case there may be incorporated an intermittent driving device, such as a mutilated gear, in the drive to the web feeding means. It is however preferred, in either case, to provide control means for the drive to the web feeding means which are responsive to the rotation orf the cylinder (or a part moving in synchronism therewith) to start and stop -the feeding operation or are responsive to the rotation of the cylinder (or part) to initiate the feed and responsive to the length of web which is fed, to stop the feeding operation.

There may be included in the machine, devices for efyfecting one or more ancillary operations on the web while it is stationary (eg. means for punching, perfor-ating, numbering, slitting, cutting or folding the web). These devices may, for example, be operated intermittently by the drive to the printing cylinder.

A preferred feature of the machine is that it may be arranged for conversion to continuous feeding of the web, e.g. when the matter to be printed has a length equal to or can be equaily sub-divided into, the circumferential length of the cylinder. In machines embodying this feature, the devices, if any for effecting anciilary operations may be interchangeable with corresponding devices arranged to operate on a moving web or they may be rendered inactive.

The machine may include means for reeling the web after printing or :for folding Iit transversely into a Zig-zag pack 4or for -folding it longitudinally (or both) or for cutting i-t into individual sheets. The folding or cutting means may operate Iwhile the web is stationary or while it is moving. s

The invent-ion provides other important improvements in printing machines which are embodied in the specific example about to be described. Particularly important are the features of the punching, pertforating and cutting devices, especially the features which permit ready change of the punch-ing or perforating unit-s and their accurate location on the suppont members.

A specific example of the machine according to the invention and intended for 4the production of business forms and to be readily adjustable 'to produce such forms of dif- :ferent sizes and with different punch holes and perforations, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic perspective View of the complete machine,

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section showing the general arrangement of the machine,

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the machine showing the paper supply reel and other parts,

FIGURE 4 is a side View, to a larger scale than IFIG- URE 2, showing the punching unit of the machine,

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the punching unit,

FIGURE 6 is a plan View of the punching unit,

FIGURE 7 is a side view, to a larger scale than FIG- URE 2, -showing the penforating unit of the machine,

FIGURE 8 is an end view of the perforating unit,

FIGURE 9 is a view, partly in section, showing printing cylinder assembly,

FIGURE l0 is a side view, corresponding to` FIGURE 2, of the form numbering unit and ink-ing mechanism,

FIGURE ll is an end view of the numbering unit and mechanism shown in FIGURE 10,

FIGURE l2 is a view from the opposite side of the numbering unit and inking mechanism,

FIGURE 13 is a section on the line 13-13 in FIG- URE 10J FIGURE 14 is a view, in the opposite direction to FIGURE 2, showing the driving mechanism for the inking and damping rollers of the printing unit, and

FIGURE l5 is a view in the `direction 15-15 in FIG- URE 14.

The machine constituting the subject of this example is primarily intended to produce along a web of paper a succession of numbered forms each `divided from its neighbours by lines of transverse perforations. The machine also produces marginal punch hole-s along the edges of the web and, if required, other punch holes at suitable places (c g. for use in tiling of the forms after they have been completed and separated from the web). The machine in the embodiment to be described is arranged to reel the web after printing but it may readily be modiiied to cut the web into sheets or to fold it into a Zig-zag pack. The machine may also readily be modified for other purposes.

The general lay-out of the machine can best be appreciated `from FIGURES 1 and 2 and will first be described with reference to the path -of `the paper. The paper supply consists of a reel 30 which is rotated at a controlled rate to fulfil the demand of the machine. The control is effected by means of -a floating or dancing .idler roller 31 around which the paper 32 passes after leaving the reel. From the roller 31, the paper passes around a driven feed roller 33 against which it is pressed by a gripper roller 35. The pressure s releasable by manual operation, as later described (eg. to assist in the preparation of the machine).

The -web passes from the `feed roller `36 to a unit 38 where the marginal and other holes .are punched. It is then taken `around rollers 39 `and `40 to a unit 42 for effecting the transverse perforations and any other perf-orations or cuts which may be desired. The roller 39 is adjustable to vary the length of the path between units 38 and 42 `and so to enable the relative positions of the marginal holes and transverse perforations to be adjusted.

the

After leaving the perfor-ating unit 42, the web 32 passes between the blanket cylinder 44 and the impression cyl-inder 45 of a lithographic printing unit and then between a numbering device carried on a drum 46 and an impression cylinder 47. After the numbering unit, the web passes between a pair of gripping rollers 48, 49, around an idler roller 50, to a. second Lfloating idler roller 51 and then Ito a rewind reel 52. The roller 51 controls the rotation of the rewind reel.

Between the units 38 and 42, the web 32 passes between a photo-electric cell 56 and ,a light source 57, the cell being arranged to count the marginal holes and, as later described, `to stop the rfeed of the web when a predetermined length of Iweb appropriate to the form length being printed, has been fed.

lf, for any particular printing operation the web does not require punchin-g or perforating, the units 38 and 42 may be bypassed .and the web taken around a roller 54 to the printing unit, as shown by the chain line between rollers 3-3 and 54.

The machine is driven by a motor 60. The motor has a belt drive 61 to a variable speed unit 62 (controlled by a handwheel 65) and then a second belt drive 63 to a reduction gear of which the output is a sprocket driving a chain 64. This chain drives `the impression cylinder 45, sprockets 66, 67 which operate the punching and perforating devices, as later described, a driving member 68 for the unwind reel 30 and a driving member 69 for the rewind reel 52. 'I'he cylinders of the printing and numbering units are `driven by gears from the impression cylinder 45. The gears also drive a sprocket 70 for a chain drive 71 to the feed rollers '33 and 48. There is an electro-magnetic clutch (not shown) in the drive to the sprocket 70 (ie, between the shaft 72 carrying the sprocket and the driving gear 73 thereon) and an electromagnetic brake (also not shown) iwhich operates on the shaft 74 carrying roller 33. Energisation of the clutch is eiected Iby closure of a magnetically operated switch 75 which is closed each time a magnet 76 carried by the impression cylinder 45 reaches a particular 'angular position, i.e. when or just before printing is to begin. Release of the clutch and application of the brake `are controlled by the cell 56 when the cell has counted the passage of the appropriate number of marginal punch holes after .the engagement of the clutch. Thus the movement of the paper is begun just before printing is due to Abegin and is ended `when a predetermined length of paper, appropriate to the form being printed, has been fed. There may also be provided a second magnetically operated switch 75a `arranged to release the clutch and apply the brake. This second switch is for use in preparing the machine for operation and as` a safety device.

Rotatable with the roller 49 there are slitting and/ or perforating devices which operate to trim or slit or perforate the web in the longitudinal direction during the movements of the web.

The roller,49, and .the slitting or other devices, are pressed against the roller 48 by a spring plunger 77 carried by an arm 78 rotatable by handle 79 to relieve 'the spring pressure and so 4to render the paper feed inoperative for initial setting of the machine. Similar means -for releasing the pressure between rollers 33 and 35 are provided, as previously mentioned.

The Paper Supply The reel 30 is carried on a spool 80 (FIGURE 3) which is freely rotatable on a iixed stub shaft 81. The spool is releasably held on the shaft by a screw 82, which "also .adjusts side registration of the web, and by a cap `83 and is driven by a pair of pins 84 rotatable by a matcally. To drive the sprocket 86 it is electromagnetically `frictionally clutched to a member 88 rotatable with sprocket 68 and to brake the sprocket 86 it is electromagnetically frictionally engaged with a lixed member 89. The coils of the two magnets are differentially energised from a potentiometer 90, the coils having connections to the two ends of the potentiometer Sliding contact. This contact is .adjusted according to the height of the dancing idler 31, the idler as it moves downwardly, increasing the electric potential applied to the brake and decreasing that applied to the clutch, so that the reel is driven more slowly to decrease the rate at which the paper is issued. Upward movement of the idler increases the rate of -issue of the paper.

The idler roller is carnied on a shaft which has, at each end, a pinion 92 running on a rack 93. At one end the shaft also has a `nut 94 which engages with a helical groove 95, having less `than one turn, in a spindle 96. The spindle is attached at its upper end to the sliding contact of the potentiometer so that rotation of the spindle by the up and down movement of the idler roller effects the adjustment of the potentiometer as described above. The roller movement is caused by the varying tension in Ithe paper.

The Punching and Perforating Unit This uni-t is in two readily removable sections (see FIGURE 1) which have a common operating means. The first section, 38, effects the punching oli the marginal holes `and also any iiling or other holes. This section comprises a horizontal rectangular frame composed of two opposed bars 100, 101 (FIGURE 6) which extend lengthwise of the machine one at each side of the path of a paper web of maximum width. These bars are cross-connected at each of their ends by two bars 102, 103i. The bars 102 are of angle section and receive within the angles the ends of the bars 100, 101 which hold the bars 102, 103 separated from one another to leave a gap 104 (FIGURE 5) through -which the paper passes. The bars are held by corner screws 105.

The bar has a longitudinal slot 108 which receives one edge of the paper. In the bottom wall of this slot are secured dies 109 at intervals of half an inch and aligned therewith in the top wall there are guides 110 for punches 111. The punches are readily removable and in use only so many may be employed as is required to punch the holes for one printing length.

Opposite to the bar 100 there is a similar bar 114 carrying dies and punches for the opposite edge of the paper web. This bar, which may be omitted if holes along one edge only are required, is adjustable towards and away from the bar I100 to accommodate webs of different widths. The bar 114 seats in the angle bars 102 and is slidable along those bars to elect the adjustment just mentioned. It is clamped to the bars 102 by clamps 115.

Adjustably clamped to the bars 102 and 103 (by clamps 1118, 119) are two dovetailed bars 120, 121. The tails of clamps 119 are received in grooves 122 in bars 103. The paper passes through the gap 123 between the bars 120, 121. Adjustable along the bar there are holders '126 for dies 127 and adjustable on the bar 121 there are holders 128 for punches 129 which co-operate with the dies 127 in punching ling or other holes. The holders are readily removable and replaceable `and more than onedpair of bars 121, 123` with punches 4and dies may be use To operate the punches there is a plate 130 which extends over the whole of the area which may be occupied by punches. This plate engages the tops of all the punches in use and is given up and down movements. During downward movements the plate depresses the punches to effect the punching operations. Upward movements of the punches `are effected by springs 132, A133.

The plate 130 is attached to uprights 136, 137 (FIGURE 2) which are guided at 138 (FIGURE 3), tor'up and down movement. Such movement is elected by eccentrics 139 and eccentric rods 140, the eccentrics being rotated by sprockets 66, 67 in ysuch timed relation with the paper feed that the punches are operated while the paper is stationary.

A chute 142 is provided for guiding the waste punchings into a tray. This chute is carried by fixed cross members 143 which also act as support rails for the punching unit. The punching unit is removable by sliding along the rails. At one end there are spring plungers `144 (FIGURE 3) engaging the unit and at the other end, spring detents, not shown, for holding and locating the unit.

The perforating unit comprises a `tixed support o-r anvil plate 150 over the top of the punching unit. Above the plate 150 there is a plate (or frame) 152 which is attached to the uprights 136 and 137 for up and down movement therewith. Along each side edge this plate has a series of attachment holes 154 which are at half-inch pitch. The plate 152 is readily removable and is retained by spring plungers 153 on uprights 136, 1137 and spring detents, not shown.

Attachable to any pair of opposed holes 154 there is a perforating unit 156. One or more such units may be employed at appropriate positions, as desired. The unit comprises a channel bar 157 which is held to the plate 152 by fixing screws 158` engaging the holes 154. A strip 159 of deformable rubber is interposed between the bar and the plate. Secured to the bar 157 by screws 160 there is a perforating blade 162 and a stripper blade 163. The blade 162 is held against up and down movement in the channel of bar 157 but the stripper blade 163 is permitted to move up and down by the elongated formation of the slots 164 for screws 160 and by compression of a strip 166 of rubber at the bottom of the channel.

In use, as the plate 152 reaches the bottom of its downward stroke, the paper then being stationary, the blade 16-3 engages the paper supported `on plate 150 and is arrested. The blade 162 continues to move downwardly to perforate the paper and is arrested by engagement with plate 150. Any further movement of plate 152 is accommodated by compression of rubber 159.

The Lithographie Printing Unit This unit comprises an impression cylinder 45, a blanket cylinder 170, a plate cylinder 171 and inking and damping units 172, I173. The three cylinders are geared together for rotation in unision and `at the same peripheral speeds.

The impression cylinder is carried on an eccentric mounting 175 which is rotatable through a small angle by means of a manually operable worm 176 and connecting gears and linkage `as shown. The purpose of this adjustment is to vary the separation oi the impression and blanket cylinders to suit paper of different thicknesses.

The blanket cylinder is also mounted on eccentrics rotatable by a toggle mechanism 178 and handle 179 for the purpose `of disengaging the blanket cylinder from the other two for ease of changing printing plates and other operations.

Each of the three cylinders has similar means for securing to the cylinder a thin, split, outer sleeve 183i. The cylinder has a longitudinal gap 180* in its surface `and within this gap there is a segmental member 1-81 which is carried on arms `182 rotatable about the axis of the cylinder. Springs 184 on the ends of the cylinder and acting on pins 185 attached to the arms 182 urge the member 181 towards the side 186 of the gap. The member may be held away from this side by a toggle mechanism 188, when desired.

The split sleeves are of thin sheet metal 'and have `a pair of opposed edges bent inwardly to hook shape as seen at 187. One of these edges engages over the side 136 of the gap and the other over the edge 189 of the segmental member 181. Accordingly the action of springs pin 205 on the disc 6 184 tends to tension the sleeve around the cylinder and to hold it in place.

The sleeve on the impression cylinder is of increased thickness around a portion of the cylinder, this increase being provided by a layer 193 of rubber or a rubber like compound bonded to the metal. The circumferential length of the layer 193--which constitutes the impression surface-is equal to, or only slightly greater than, the length of the matter to be printed on each form and is so located circumferentially that it passes through the nip between the blanket and impression roller during a printing operation and while the paper is moving. Interchangeable impression sleeves are provided for the impression cylinder having circumferential lengths suited to forms of different standard lengths.

The sleeve for the blanket cylinder is likewise of metal coated with rubber or a rubberli'ke compound but in this case the coating extends around substantially the whole circumference of the cylinder.

The sleeve 183 for the plate cylinder is a lithograpbic plate which may correspond to a single form or two or more successive forms. The plate may carry images to produce forms side by side.

The Numbering Unit This unit (see FIGURES 2` and IOL-13) comprises an impression cylinder 190, the cylinder `46, which carries one or more numbering boxes 194 and an inking unit 191. There may, for example, be more than one box 194 when the printing plate produces two or more successive forms in one operation. The cylinder is driven, by gearing, `from cylinder 45 and in turn has a gear drive to the cylinder 46 and also the sprocket for chain 71 and to a shaft 192 for driving ancillary equipment.

The cylinder 190 is carried on eccentrics rotatable by a worm 195 and a linkage system for the purpose of varying the gap between the cylinders 190 and 46 to suit different thicknesses of paper.

The numbering box or each box 194 is carried on a flange 196 on the cylinder 46 and is of the kind in which the numbers are advanced one unit for each complete rocking movement of a lever arm 195. The -ree end ot this arm runs in an eccentric annular groove 197 in a disc 198 which is held stationary. Accordingly the numbers are advanced for each revolution of cylinder 46, the angular relation of the eccentric groove being such that the changes are effected between printing operations.

In order that advance of the numbers may be stopped, if desired, the eccentricity of the groove 19'.' may be removed so that the arm runs in the groove without rocking. To this end the disc 198 has a rectangular aperture 200 which is slidable, in the direction of the arrow, on a Xcd guide hub 201 having flat -faces 202 engaged by the sides of the aperture. A spring 204 acting between a 198 and a pin 206 xed to ange 207 urges the disc 198 inwardly to its concentric position. To move the disc 198 to its eccentric position and to hold it there, there is a cam disc 208 rotatable by a lever 209. This disc has a cam surface 210l which lifts the pin 205 during partial rotation of the cam disc. A spring detent lever 212 moves over a peak 214 on the disc 208 to retain the latter at either end of its rotational movement.

Inking and Damping Units The inking and dam-ping units 172 and 173 for the plate cylinder comprise ink and water ducts 220, 221 with a train of transfer or vibrating rollers and distributing rollers to the plate cylinder. The operating motions for these are derived from the rotation or the plate cylinder 171. This cylinder carries a crank pin 224 with connecting rods `225, 226 to llevers for rocking pawls 228, 229 engaging with ratchet teeth on the duct rollers. Adjustable shields 230 are provided -for varying the number of ratchet teeth yfed at each stroke. There is a third connecting rod 232 which rocks a bell-crank lever 233 to efect axial movement of an ink distributing roller 234. Axial movements in the reverse sense are transmitted from roller 234 to a second distributing roller 236 -by a lever 237.

To effect the movements of the ink transfer roller there is a cam 238 rotatable with the plate cylinder 171. This cam rocks a bell crank lever 239' which carries the transfer roller.

Similarly the cam 238 rocks a bell crank lever 240 which carries the water transfer roller.

-For inking the numbering `box or boxes there are two rollers 245, 246 which are supplied from a duct 247 by transfer and distributing rollers. The rotation of the duct roller 248 is eected by a pawl 249 rocked by a bell-crank lever having arms 250, 251 on a shaft 252. The arm. 251 is rocked by a crank pin 252 on a cam disc 253. The transfer roller 255 is carried on arms 256 on a shaft 257 to which up Iand down rocking movements are given by a follower 258 running on the periphery of cam disc 253. Axial movements of the distributing roller 26@ are effected by the face of the cam disc 253, acting against a spring 26?.. The cam disc is rotated at slow speed from the number box cylinder through a train of gears and a reduction gear box 262.

Paper Rewind The rewind reel 52 is supported and driven in a manner similar to that described above Vfor the paper supply reel. The idler 51 controls a clutch and brake in the drive to the reel 52 (in the reverse sense to that -for the supply reel) to maintain a substantially constant loop and tension in the paper.

General The machine as described above is extremely adaptable for printing forms and other matter of different lengths land widths. To adjust the machine for matters of different lengths it is only necessary to alter the effective length of the printing impression cylinder (by substitution of a sleeve having a rubber or like coating of the appropriate circumferential length) and to set the photo-electric counting device to count the number of punch holes appropriate to the desired printing length. The paper web will then advance for the desired length during printing and stop while the printing rollers complete the remainder of a single rotation.

Moreover the machine may readily be adjusted to the punching and perforations of different widths and lengths of forms. If spare sets of the removable parts of the punching and perforating units are provided, these may be made ready before insertion in the machine and accordingly the change from one arrangement of holes and perforations to another can be made very quickly.

When the matter to be printed extends around substantially the whole circumference of the printing cylinder, then the machine may operate continuously,V i.e. with continuous movement of the paper. In that event the punching and perforating units may be rendered inffective or replaced by units which will operate on a moving web.

Instead of re-reeling the web as shown, there may be provided a guillotine for cutting the |web into sheets or a folding device lfor holding the web into a zigzag pack. These devices may be attached to the rear of the machines as indicated at 300 in FIGrURl-l l and driven from shaft 192.

I claim:

1. A web-fed printing machine having a printing couple consisting of a rotatable impression cylinder, and a rotatable blanket cylinder of which one has a raised portion over only a part of its circumference so that a web between the cylinders is gripped nipped for printing thereby during only a part of each revolution of the cylinders, comprising a lithographic plate cylinder rotatable in off-setting contact relation with the blanket cylinder,

means for Aeffecting continuous rotation of the three cylinders, means for applying water to the lithgrophic plate cylinder, means for applying ink to the lithographic plate cylinder, a rotatable feeding device operable to feed the web to the cylinders, a rotatable feeding device operable to pull the web between the impression and blanket cylinders, a frame supporting the feeding device for rotation at a fixed station, means for operating the feeding device to pull the web intermittently in such timed relation with the rotation of the printing couple that movement of the web between the cylinders is effected by the feeding device over the part of the revolution of the cylinders in which they nip for printing the web, and means stopping the operation of the feeding device thereafter and after a predetermined length of the web has been fed.

2. A web-fed printing machine according to claim l, in which the second-mentioned rotatable feeding device is in the path of the web before the cylinders 'and operable to feed the web to the cylinders in synchronism with the first-mentioned feeding device, the two feeding devices being arranged to maintain the web taut between them. Y

3. A web-fed printing machine, according to claim 2, including means for supporting for rotation a supply reel of web, a motor, a driving connection between the motor and the reel to effect rotation thereof and means responsive to changes in the length of a loop of web between the reel and the aforesaid feeding device before the cylinders to control the drive to the reel.

4. A web-fed printing machine according to claim 3, including an electrically operable clutch in said driving connection, an electrically operable brake operable to resist rotation of the reel, a potentiometer operable to cont-rol the application of inversely varying voltages to the clutch and brake, and an operating mem-ber for the potentiometer contained within the said loop and movable by changes in the length thereof.

5. A web-fed printing machine comprising a printing couple lconsisting of a rotatable printing cylinder and a rotatable impression cylinder of which at least one has a raised portion over only a part of its circumference so that a web between the cylinders is nipped for printing thereby during only a part of each revolution of the cylinders, means for effecting continuous rotation of the cylinders, Aa rotatable feeding device operable to feed the web to the cylinders, a rotatable feeding device operable to pull the web from the cylinders, means for intermittently operating the feeding devices in synchronism and in such timed relation with the rotation of the printing couple that movement of the web between the cylinders is effected by the feeding devices over the part of the revolution of the cylinders in which the cylinders nip the web, means for stopping the operation of the feeding devices thereafter and after a predetermined length of the web has been fed, the feeding devices being operable to maintain the web taut between them, means for supporting for rotation a supply reel of web, a motor, a driving connection between the motor and the reel to effect rot-ation thereof, and means responsive to changes in the length of a loop of web between the reel and the firstmentioned feeding device to control the drive to the reel.

6. A web-fed printing machine according to claim 5, including an electrically operable clutch in said driving connection, and electrically operable brake operable to resist rotation of the reel, a potentiometer operable to control the application of inversely varying voltages to the clutch and brake, and an operating member for the potentiometer contained within the said loop and movable `by changes in the length thereof.

7. A web-fed printing machine according to claim 5, including means for supporting for rotation a web re-wind reel, driving means for effecting rotation of the re-wind reel, and means responsive to changes in the length of a loop of web between the second-mentioned feeding device 9 and the re-wind reel to control the driving means for the reel.

8. A websfed printing machine according to claim 5, in which said driving means include an electrically operable clutch, and an electrically operable brake operable to resist rotation of the reel, a potentiometer operable to control the application of inversely varying voltages to the clutch and brake and an operating member for the potentiometer contained within the said loop and movable by changes in the length thereof.

9. A web-fed printing machine according to claim 5, including punching means operable on the web between said two feeding devices, and means for operating the punching means in the intervals between the operations of the feeding devices.

10. A web-fed printing machine according to claim 9, in which the said punching means are operable to punch marginal feed holes in the web and comprise along at least one side of the web path a row of punch guides, readily removable punches in at least some of the guides, a row of dies for co-operation with the punches in the guides, and presser means for simultaneously operating all of the punches which are in the guides.

11. A web-fed printing machine according to claim 10, in which there are rows of punch guides and co-operating dies along the opposite sides of the web path and the rows are relatively adjustable towards and away from one another across the web path.

12. A web-fed printing machine according to claim 5, including means for producing perforations in the web and operable while the Web is stationary.

13. A web-fed printing machine according to claim 5, in which the means for operating the feeding devices comprise a driving motor with a driving connection to the feeding devices, an electrically operated clutch in the driving connection, a switch controlling engagement of the clutch, and means for operating the switch to effect engagement of the clutch when movement of the web is to begin.

14. A web-fed printing machine according to claim 5, in which the means `for stopping the operation of the l@ feeding devices are controlled by a photo-electric device operable to scan the web.

15. A web-fed printing machine having a printing couple consisting of a rotatable impression cylinder and a rotatable blanket cylinder of which one has a raised portion over only a part of its circumference so that a web between the cylinders is nipped thereby during only a part of each revolution of the cylinders, a lithographie plate cylinder rotatable in oil-setting contact relation with the blanket cylinder, means for effecting continuous rotation of the three cylinders, means for applying water to the lithographie plate cylinder, means for applying ink to the lithographie plate cylinder, a rotatable feeding device operable to pull a web between the impression and blanket cylinders, a frame supporting the feeding device for rotation at a fixed station, and means for operating the feeding device to pull the web intermittently in such timed relation with the rotation of the printing couple that the web feed is begun immediately before the web is nipped between the cylinders of the printing couple, and continues until immediately after the end of the nip of the web.

16. A web-fed printing machine as claimed in claim l5, in which the arrangement of the lithographie plate is such that printing on the web begins immediately after the beginning of the nip of the web and ends immediately before the end ofthe nip of the web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,206,929 Scott Dec. 5, 1916 1,282,131 Smith Oct. 22, 1918 1,688,967 Holmes Oct. 23, 1928 1,819,751 La Bombard et al Aug. 18, 1931 1,940,669 Harries Dec. 26, 1933 1,975,577 Hepperlen Oct. 2, 1934 1,986,643 Mueller lan. 1, 1935 2,548,136 Auer Apr. 10, 1951 2,645,174 Levin July 14, 1953 2,825,407 Widell Mar. 4, 1958 2,967,479 George et al. Jan. 10, 1961 

